Oral Rehydration Therapy (More than 10 kg or 22 pounds)

IV Fluids Oral Slowly try Stomach Rest Rehydration Regular Diet

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What is Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)? Let your nurse know if your child: Your child has been diagnosed with  Refuses the feeds gastroenteritis or “stomach flu”. It is a viral  Vomits infection that causes vomiting, diarrhea and in  Has large amounts of diarrhea some cases dehydration. To help your child start oral fluids again, you will give your child What will you need? small amounts of fluid every few minutes. This  A medicine cup or syringe for measuring is called Oral Rehydration Therapy. small amounts of fluid  A clock or device to track time ® The fluid you will use is Pedialyte . This fluid  The “Feeding Log” on these instructions has the right amounts of salt and sugar, which  A pen or pencil help the intestines reabsorb (take in) water. If your child won’t take Pedialyte®, we may try a mix of half water and half apple juice.

Giving oral rehydration takes about 1 hour. Your nurse will tell you when you can start oral rehydration. This is usually given after at least 4 hours of IV fluids and stomach rest, or during the day if your child is hospitalized at night.

Although your child may want more, it is important to give only the recommended amount. This gives the stomach time to absorb the fluid and helps prevent vomiting.

Your child may refuse the liquids at first, but this usually gets better after a few feeds.

© Children’s Minnesota • Patient & Family Education Revised 2/19

Oral Rehydration Therapy Feeding Log

Time Try to space every 5 minutes Fluid amount (ml) Vomiting? (Write in the actual time you (Cross out the amount when given) (Circle yes or no) give the feeding)

Example: 8:15 a.m. 10 ml Yes/No

10 ml Yes/No

10 ml Yes/No

10 ml Yes/No

10 ml Yes/No

Check with your child’s nurse before increasing the feeding amount

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

20 ml Yes/No

Check with your child’s nurse when complete

© Children’s Minnesota • Patient & Family Education Revised 2/19